The Conference System: Success or Failure?

[Bruce Ross]

Getting back to AC's initial point, I think that the conference system has been a success. I particularly enjoy the fact that the Australian teams play each other twice.

 

[chequebalance]

I knew exactly where you were coming from, AC.

I'm just filthy on all the people who have debased my sport by treating it as a business - invariably badly run - and/or as an entertainment vehicle. And particularly filthy on Murdoch who has zero interest in sport and has systematically debased journalistic standards around the world.

I guess that's the nature of the beast Bruce. You can still watch the sport you love in the purist form on any given weekend at your local field, but as all professional sports it is business. If it wasn't treated that way the money would not be there and the players would run off to a country where it is a business (Japan, France) and the sport would be poorer for the lack of quality players that makes the Super 15 the pinnicle of the game.

 

[Slim 293]

As someone who doesn't own Foxtel, and lives in Melbourne, it is a total pain in the ass to go watch a game.

 

[matty_k]

As someone who doesn't own Foxtel, and lives in Melbourne, it is a total pain in the ass to go watch a game.

Similar experience on the the North Coast. Have to fight with the League watchers every week. Who want to watch it on every TV.

 

[Slim 293]

I've been lucky a couple of weeks where there hasn't been as much AFL/NRL on and I've had the game on at one of the locals...

But unless I have the time to go into the city (except for when the one places that guarantees rugby is closed on a Sunday), or I happen to be in one of the inner SE suburbs then it gets difficult...

When I was in Canberra as long as a bar had Foxtel you were guaranteed the Brumbies' match as they are the #1 team... or I would have relatives record the match for me...

Now I mostly have to find streams online...

 

[Richo]

I think the conference system has been a success this year and I personally love that 6 finals positions are available, with clear advantage in a top two position. It keeps the rugby intriguing for many teams right until the end, even allowing the Brumbies to play pivotal games in an otherwise horrific season.

However, I think that, rightly or wrongly, the wider initial perception will be shaped by whether the Tahs make the finals. Next year the bigger question will be whether the low-ranked Aussie teams are more competitive.

 

[Dumbledore]

I've been lucky a couple of weeks where there hasn't been as much AFL/NRL on and I've had the game on at one of the locals...

But unless I have the time to go into the city (except for when the one places that guarantees rugby is closed on a Sunday), or I happen to be in one of the inner SE suburbs then it gets difficult...

When I was in Canberra as long as a bar had Foxtel you were guaranteed the Brumbies' match as they are the #1 team... or I would have relatives record the match for me...

Now I mostly have to find streams online...

Where are you in Melbourne, Slim? I'm pretty much the same as you.

As for the conference system, I think it's worked out pretty well - hard to disagree with the teams that are ending up in the finals.

 

[TheNextBigThing]

there's a flip side to every positive or negative. It just depends what side of the argument you feel is more important/valid.

A longer season with extra games/Seemingly astronomical injury list
More local derbies/Teams don't get to play every other team
Even mix of finals teams/Tahs arguably won't deserve to be there (or at least they will be open to criticism)

I find all other criticisms or benefits of the new format have a flipside, there are no objective improvements or failures.

 

[PaarlBok]

Season is way to long, unfair competition. I think AC was the one that qouted SA to be an easy conferense including the Tin Ears and Lions. Thought they were both tough nuts to crack this year and all Saffers knew this all along the way.

 

[Thomotah]

I think this year has been interesting due to surprisingly good efforts from the Lions and Cheetahs in SA and Highlanders in NZ and a surprisingly poor year for the Brumbies. With the salary cap and squad restrictions imposed by th ARU things may get worse next year for the AUS conference.

 

[Langthorne]

More matches is a good thing, but

-I'd prefer that everyone plays everyone else at least once
-The top 6 should just be the top six on the overall Super ladder (ie no resevered top 3 positions)

With those two adjustments I think the competiton would be fairer

The Rebels have done pretty well for their first season - better than many other debut teams of the past

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I too would prefer that everyone plays each other once too. The Force have played everyone other than the Chiefs and Cheetahs, so potentially there could have been two more games for everyone. We'd then be extending the season by probably about three weeks (to take into account maybe an extra bye). If we do that, then collective bargaining agreements for the players would have to be re-negotiated to allow extra games or we'd have to start looking at dropping one or two of the inbound test matches.

So I guess the question is: which do we value more? I vote for keeping the same number of tests, meaning that the Super season stays as it is. An alternative would be that we scrap the local derbies home and away set up and bring the games down to 14 for each team. That would be my least preferred option, as I've enjoyed that aspect this year.

 

[TheNextBigThing]

-The top 6 should just be the top six on the overall Super ladder (ie no resevered top 3 positions)

How would this be any different?

 

[Langthorne]

This season, maybe not different at all - but that may not always be the case.

 

[BDA]

there's a flip side to every positive or negative. It just depends what side of the argument you feel is more important/valid.

A longer season with extra games/Seemingly astronomical injury list
More local derbies/Teams don't get to play every other team
Even mix of finals teams/Tahs arguably won't deserve to be there (or at least they will be open to criticism)

- the longer season is good for Aus rugby as it allows more exposure and the high injury count this year has allowed Aus rugby to blood so many new players that may not have got a chance in s14.
- Next year teams will get to play other every team (albiet only once against teams from other conferences)
- I agree the Tahs are lucky to be in the finals, but not sure which other teams deserve to be there instead. They are slightly better than the Chiefs, Highlanders, and Sharks IMO and probably would have done a lot better if they hadn't had such a long list of injures.

I find all other criticisms or benefits of the new format have a flipside, there are no objective improvements or failures.

 

[darkhorse]

How would this be any different?

Hypothetically, we could have a shit australian conference where the winner came anywhere from 4-7th on the overall ladder, yet under current rules, will automatically be given 3rd spot as winner of a conference.

That part ain't right. Although I'm still undecided. It does provide some balance for harder conferences, so that playing each other twice isn't a complete disadvantage.

 

[Bowside]

I dont really want to see test rugby played before super rugby is finished. Is it possible that a combination of starting the seasons earlier (night games if its too hot), finishing the 3/4N later and the moving the inbound tests back a week, could mean that an expanded competition (2 extra games, bye week before finals) is possible?

 

[gho]

I dislike how most websites show the Super league table split up into conferences instead of the old one table. It understates how badly the australian teams are doing.

 

[RugbyInterest]

I dislike how most websites show the Super league table split up into conferences instead of the old one table. It understates how badly the australian teams are doing.

The credible sites show both

 

[hench]

The only way to keep people happy would be to play each team home and way. I personally have no problems withe conference systems and have seen more SA and NZ derby matches this year compared to other years.